Mt. Hakkoda Site - Japan

The Hakkoda site is located on the east slope of Mt. Takada-Ohtake, and on the west slope of Mt. Akakuradake (40.35 ~ 40 N, 140.47 ~ 57 E). The forest site includes 14 permanent plots (0.05 ~ 0.25 ha) ranging over beech forests (alt. 400 – 800m), mixed forests (alt. 900m) and abies forests (alt. 1000 – 1400m). In the two plots at each elevation (400, 600, 800, 900, 1000, 1200, 1400m), the studies for forest dynamics and carbon/nutrient cycling have been conducted since 2007. In the plots of beech forests, Fagus crenata dominates canopy layer, and other deciduous broad-leaved species such as Quercus crispula, Acer japonicum and Magnolia obovata coexist. In the plots of abies forests, the forest canopy is dominated by Abies ...